Dolphins Plod to 16-13 Win Over Hapless Jets

Thankfully last night's Monday Night Football game has come to an end. Without looking back on every MNF contest through the years I can say, without reservation, that this game between the Miami Dolphins and the NY Jets was the most boring game I have ever watched. The Dolphins beat the Jets 16-13.

After three quarters of play the Dolphins had 52 yards on the ground and 167 through the air. The Jets on the other hand had 233 yards rushing and just 42 yards receiving. Geno Smith, Jets quarterback, was 3 of 6 passing for the first half. Only Tim Tebow has ever won an NFL game while attempting 15 or fewer passes in a game.

There was a situation in the second quarter, with the Jets leading 10-6 and facing a 4th and 2 from the Miami 27 yard line that seemed the perfect time to go for it on 4th down. The Jets defense had held the Dolphins for most of the half and the Jets had 228 yards rushing at the time. The worst case scenario for the Jets, if they didn't make it, would be that the Dolphins would take over on downs at their own 27 and the Jets defense would force them to go 73 yards in a drive, something the Dolphins had not been able to do in the game. Ryan chose to kick the field goal for a 13-6 lead.

Geno Smith attempted just 13 passes all game and completed 7 of them for 65 yards with no touchdowns and 1 interception. Statistically, Ryan Tannehill had a better night at 25 of 35 passes for 235 yards but he also failed to record a touchdown and also threw an interception.

The teams combined to miss 3 field goals, 2 by the Jet's Nick Folk and 1 by the Dolphin's Caleb Sturgis. Folk's second miss came with the score tied at 13 and 10:24 to go in the game.

Caleb Sturgis connected for 3 with 1:57 left in the game but the win was not assured until Geno Smith threw an interception with 34 seconds left.

The Dolphins somehow have managed to stay in the playoff hunt at 7-5 while the Jets fall to 2-10 on the year.

Jets Upset Steelers 20-13

The upset of the early games, and probably every game this weekend was the 1-8 NY Jets, behind the arm and legs of Michael Vick, winning handily over the 6-3 Pittsburgh Steelers 20-13. The Jets jumped out to a 17-0 lead after the 1st quarter and held on to win.

Following a Nick Folk field goal early in the quarter, Michael Vick threw a 67 yard TD strike to T.J. Graham with 3:20 to go and followed that up with a 5 yard TD toss to Jace Amaro with 19 seconds to go in the quarter.

Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 12 TDs in his previous games, did not have a TD pass until he connected with Martavis Bryant on an 80 yard pass play with 1:16 to go in the game.

Roethlisberger was 30 of 43 passing for 343 yards and a touchdown but he threw 2 INTs. Michael Vick attempted only 18 passes but completed 10 of those for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions.

The Steelers ran 17 running plays but were held to just 36 yards on the ground while the Jets gained 150 yards on 30 carries.

T.J. Graham had the 1 catch for 67 yards and a touchdown fo the Jets and Jace Amaro caught 2 balls for 6 yards and a TD.

Antonio Brown fumbled the ball twice for the Steelers. The 1st Brown fumble was recovered by the Jets on the Steeler's 20 and led to the 5 yard touchdown by Vick that gave the Jets the 17-0 lead. Jaiquawn Jarrett picked off both of Roethlisberger's 2 interceptions

Jets Lose to Pats 27-25 Drop To 1-6

The NY Jets ran for 218 yards, controlled the ball for almost 41 minutes and had no turnovers. Geno Smith was 20 of 34 for 226 yards and a touchdown. Given these stats it could be assumed that the Jets won.

Sadly, they lost. Nick Folk was 4 for 5 on field goal attempts. His last try, from 58 yards, was blocked by Chris Jones on the last play of the game to preserve the Patriot's 27-25 win.

The Patriots improved to 5-2 on the year while the Jets have lost 6 in a row and are on the brink of elimination from the playoffs with a 1-6 record. Realistically with 9 games remaining, the Jets would have to win out to have a chance.

Tom Brady was 20 for 37 for 261 yards with 2 touchdown passes to Shane Vereen, including a 49 yard catch and run, and 1 TD pass to Danny Amendola, his only catch of the night.

The Jet defense, ranked 5th in the league overall, held the New England patriots to 63 yards on 15 carries.

Chris Ivory had 107 yards on the ground for the Jets on 21 carries with a touchdown and Jeff Cumberland had 3 catches for 50 yards and a TD.

The Jets sacked Tom Brady once while the Patriots got to Geno Smith 3 times for -21 yards.